Early Child Development

For almost 30 years, the Lawson Foundation has been at the forefront of supporting the science of early human development, which shows that experiences during the prenatal and early childhood periods are key to the health, education, behaviour and general wellbeing of children throughout their lives.

Research points to sensitive or critical periods in early brain development when children have the greatest ability to acquire certain developmental skills. The kinds of positive experiences children have early in life influence how they develop, and the benefits play out across later childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

The Lawson Foundation supports public policy and professional learning initiatives that help build and strengthen a pan-Canadian system of early learning and child care. We are particularly interested in initiatives that contribute to universal access to high-quality, publicly funded early learning opportunities to support their healthy development.

Our work also recognizes the importance of outdoor and Land-based play and learning as a key component of healthy early development. Outdoor and Land-based play and learning support multiple developmental benefits: physical activity, resilience, self-regulation, social skills, and learning through exploration. We continue to support efforts that build adult capacity to  children’s opportunities for outdoor and Land-based play in early learning and child care  settings, through adult education, training, and policy development.

Imagining What’s Next: Strategic Foresight for Early Childhood in Canada

In 2024, guided by the lens of Strategic Foresight, we explored the multifaceted opportunities and barriers anticipated to impact early childhood in Canada.

The report, “Using Foresight to Contemplate the Future of Early Childhood in Canada,” explores seven key drivers likely to shape the future. It offers scenarios grounded in evidence and insights to anticipate how child development is evolving, highlighting potential opportunities and challenges for promoting healthy development in the decades to come.

Post-secondary Early Childhood Education

The quality of ELCC programs depends on the professional learning of the educators who work there. We support the integration of outdoor and land-based teaching and learning in post-secondary early childhood education (ECE) programs across Canada, equipping faculty and guiding senior administrators to make necessary policy and practice changes, ultimately getting all young children outdoors and connected to nature and the Land.

Outdoor Play Strategy: A Phased Approach

From 2013 to 2024, the Outdoor Play Strategy was designed to increase children’s opportunities for outdoor play and had a tremendous impact. Please see below for past reports and more information. Moving forward, this important work is integrated into our Early Child Development Impact Area as part of our vision for high-quality ELCC.

Understand our Impact

Access information about our granting history and the projects that we fund in our Grants Navigator.